Lessons for May 6, 2007 – Fifth Sunday of Easter The first lesson Acts 11:1-18 Soon the news reached the apostles and other believers in Judea that the Gentiles had received the word of God. [2] But when Peter arrived back in Jerusalem, some of the Jewish believers criticized him. [3] "You entered the home of Gentiles and even ate with them!" they said. [4] Then Peter told them exactly what had happened. [5] "One day in Joppa," he said, "while I was praying, I went into a trance and saw a vision. Something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners from the sky. And it came right down to me. [6] When I looked inside the sheet, I saw all sorts of small animals, wild animals, reptiles, and birds that we are not allowed to eat. [7] And I heard a voice say, 'Get up, Peter; kill and eat them.' [8] " 'Never, Lord,' I replied. 'I have never eaten anything forbidden by our Jewish laws.' [9] "But the voice from heaven came again, 'If God says something is acceptable, don't say it isn't.' [10] "This happened three times before the sheet and all it contained was pulled back up to heaven. [11] Just then three men who had been sent from Caesarea arrived at the house where I was staying. [12] The Holy Spirit told me to go with them and not to worry about their being Gentiles. These six brothers here accompanied me, and we soon arrived at the home of the man who had sent for us. [13] He told us how an angel had appeared to him in his home and had told him, 'Send messengers to Joppa to find Simon Peter. [14] He will tell you how you and all your household will be saved!' [15] "Well, I began telling them the Good News, but just as I was getting started, the Holy Spirit fell on them, just as he fell on us at the beginning. [16] Then I thought of the Lord's words when he said, 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' [17] And since God gave these Gentiles the same gift he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to argue?" [18] When the others heard this, all their objections were answered and they began praising God. They said, "God has also given the Gentiles the privilege of turning from sin and receiving eternal life." (NLT) Psalm 148 L. Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens! C. Praise him from the skies! Praise him, all his angels! L. Praise him, all the armies of heaven! Praise him, sun and moon! C. Praise him, all you twinkling stars! Praise him, skies above! L. Praise him, vapors high above the clouds! C. Let every created thing give praise to the Lord, for he issued his command, and they came into being. L. He established them forever and forever. His orders will never be revoked. C. Praise the Lord from the earth, you creatures of the ocean depths, L. fire and hail, snow and storm, wind and weather that obey him, C. mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, L. wild animals and all livestock, reptiles and birds, C. kings of the earth and all people, rulers and judges of the earth, L. young men and maidens, old men and children. C. Let them all praise the name of the Lord. L. For his name is very great; his glory towers over the earth and heaven! C. He has made his people strong, honoring his godly ones— L. the people of Israel who are close to him. C. Praise the Lord! (NLT) The second lesson Revelation 21:1-6 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. [2] And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a beautiful bride prepared for her husband. [3] I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, "Look, the home of God is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. [4] He will remove all of their sorrows, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. For the old world and its evils are gone forever." [5] And the one sitting on the throne said, "Look, I am making all things new!" And then he said to me, "Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true." [6] And he also said, "It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give the springs of the water of life without charge! (NLT) The Gospel Lesson John 13:31-35 As soon as Judas left the room, Jesus said, "The time has come for me, the Son of Man, to enter into my glory, and God will receive glory because of all that happens to me. [32] And God will bring me into my glory very soon. [33] Dear children, how brief are these moments before I must go away and leave you! Then, though you search for me, you cannot come to me—just as I told the Jewish leaders. [34] So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. [35] Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." (NLT)